By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting public comments on its proposal to provide additional methods for employees to submit retaliation complaints to OSHA, including electronic submission.

OSHA’s whistleblower regulations specify the procedures that an employee must use to file a complaint alleging that their employer violated a whistleblower provision for which OSHA has investigative responsibility. Any employee who believes that a violation occurred may file a complaint. As part of its ongoing effort to encourage employees to file whistleblower claims, OSHA is proposing to revise its regulations to include a new form, titled, ‘‘Notice of Whistleblower Complaint’’ (OSHA8–60.1), that will allow employees to submit electronic complaints of retaliation to OSHA directly over the Internet.

Comments are due to OSHA by March 18, 2013.